Testimonial for Heather Karlson (DONA)
I found Heather on this website when I was 2 months pregnant. In our first conversation, I knew she was the right doula for us. She was easy to talk to, full of information and followed up quickly and thoroughly. She recommended the Bradley childbirth class to educate ourselves and alleviate anxiety I was feeling about giving birth.
For the next 7 months, Heather offered many insights, advice and encouragement to help me at each stage of the expectant mother process. With the knowledge from our birthing class and knowing we had Heather on our team, my anxiety about labor and giving birth had diminished months ahead of time. After going into labor, my husband contacted Heather by text in the middle of the night to let her know that process had begun. She immediately texted back and stayed in touch throughout the night. When she arrived at the hospital the next afternoon, I was still only 1 cm dilated, exhausted and frustrated. Before she even had her coat off, she was gently “in my face” getting me back on track to a sustainable mindset for the work I had ahead of me. From that moment on, she did not waver in her gentle, confident demeanor, continually coming up with new positions or techniques to attempt to move the process along whenever the dilation paused. She partnered with each shift of the hospital staff to ensure we were one big team. She gave my husband much needed breaks for food and rest and partnered with him when the going got tough. She coached me through the decision making process of getting an epidural every time I wanted to give up.
If it weren’t for her, I would have never made it through 34 hours of labor with a successful unmedicated birth. She also took lovely pictures of the birth, which we would never have had the presence of mind to take. It’s great to know we have her as a resource should we need anything going forward as new parents.
-shirlee b
May 29, 2014
Heather Karlson (DONA)
DoulaKarlson.com
Birth Fee: $1800
